Dec 31, 2014

An asymmetrical hair, some pearl-dotted leggings + the slate color of this sweater & cardigan coat set (that I can't bear to take off) + I was ready for a quick jaunt thru one of my fave architectural spaces on this planet, The Getty (this is actually just a heavily processed sketch of another interior space by living legend Richard Meier, but you get some idea of his airy, clean, soaring aesthetic).
Here's hoping that 2015 will allow me to enjoy more appreciation of the arts than this year. Clean casual love + fashionista kisses to all!

Dec 30, 2014

Amidst all the holiday hustle & bustle, it's all too easy to forget about recharging & taking care of oneself. -- After all, there's only so much fa-la-la-ing that a girl can be expected to do before some quality alone time is in order. -- I always find that something hot and/or yummy helps immensely; as does online shopping. Hehe.Namaste away love + fashionista kisses to all!

And a 100%free look for you today (total cost on this look: $0L). Once upon a time (now many) SL lifetimes ago, I used to circulate a "Better Quality Freebies List!" notecard in-world for my fellow frugalistas. With the just plain silly amount of high-quality gifts abounding this time of year, I was inspired to curate a holiday, blog-circulated version of this list for our dear SLexy readers. -- Now this is not meant to be a comprehensive gifts list by any means -- there are sooo many gifts on the grid right now that it would be quite the
daunting task to list them all -- instead, this is more like a personal short-list of some of the better-quality things that you can currently scoopie
for free or cheapie (NOTE: that some will only be around for a day or two!) Some have already
made the blog rounds, but others are brand-spanking new. Enjoy!

free exquisite skin by Essences (the teeth layer shapes the mouth so gorgeously; love this dark cherry stained mouth too, plus you get an eyelashes layer too! a very generous gift) - buy the sign behind the desk for $0L

2 really lovely group gift skins for $15L group join fee at Glam Affair (totes worth it if you aren't already a member)

free new "Heidi" group gift skin at Lara Hurley ($0L group join; touch sign on wall)

free star made of branches & xmas lights (very cute) by Tarte (touch sign on side wall of front desk to join $0L group; look in Notices)
*NOTE: just outside the store is 1 of the prettiest snow scenes - take a break from all the gift grabbing to sit under the xmas leaf canopy at the docks + gaze across the lake here)

(and b/c yellow gold is so very "in" right now in RL) free blinged-out peace sign gold necklace (Peace on Earth 7 Hunt prize) at Zuri Rayna paid VIP group gifts worth mentioning (free gifts for paid VIP group members only):- Maitreya: 3 (!) pairs of group-exclusive mesh shoes for the new Maitreya mesh body (make sure to pick up the mesh lashes gift if you haven't gotten it already)
- IKON: 1 pair of new "Deadwood" (fantasy crackle-texture) eyes, in blue
- Birdy: this "Elsa" skin gift is stunning + cute companion + holding baby penguin friends!
- B.C.C (Bonne Chance): red mini-cape coat w/ fur trim
*NOTE: This is another gorges winter SIM; B.C.C creator Vitamingirl is such a talented landscaper! Stand in front of her B.C.C store here to look out at the tree canopy tunnel in the snow
- Hello Dave: sooo many SLink hands nails appliers (all past gifts are available for members); brand-new nail polish setup gift, that also works as a HUD!

group joins that are currently free:
- Pulcino (SLink & non-SLink nails); i won the free color-tipped "Diamond Snow" at the group lucky board (group currently $0L to join)

+ if you haven't done it already:

- free Advent Calendar at Analog Dog here, with gifts from several creators, donated for the KittyCatS! brand (you click on each of the calendar days once; the Analog Dog hair (item is called "Analog Dog Hair - Holiday Freebie") is an updo bun w/ soft bangs that's supercute); you can click on all past days!

- free Xmas hunt at Inspiration Point always is fun to do (make sure to wear the map HUD that you can pick up from signs thruout the SIM) + the SIM build itself is so very pretty to explore: head to the main landing point here + start looking around for white bunnies!
* NOTE: Flickr prizes key here (I've also been using these prizes in recent blog posts):https://www.flickr.com/photos/thesecretstore/16064470272/

- all the many free gifts under the tree at The Arcade (event ends in 2 days!)

Dec 29, 2014

If you must get caught in a snowdrift, make sure you have a couple of friends around to keep you company.
Take my li'l snowmen buddies here. These guys were quick to remind me that even though I could no longer feel my fingers or toes, at least my powder-pink cardigan, eyeshadow and lip gloss matched their pink scarves. -- Thank God for our friends to remind us of what's really important. *touches up lipstick*

And in the true holiday spirit of over-indulgence in sweet treats, I couldn't resist this pretty crepes maker by The Secret Store, which I scoopied whilst doing the hunt at Inspiration Point. You get both the crepes maker (which comes w/ handy tools) and this scrumptious chocolate-drizzled crepe for a measly $100L; now if only one like this cost so little in RL, hehe. -- I couldn't resist piling on more yummies (many of which were previously free finds) to concoct the ultimate DIY-style fantasy crepes & waffles station (I suspect the kitty had a good time, too).Crepes fantasylove + fashionista kisses to all!

Dec 15, 2014

Few people knew that Rudolph had a secret mean streak: for example, that day with the macarons. Rudolph (like everyone else) knew that rabbits can never resist a challenge about speed: he knew that all he needed to do was drop a comment about who could reach those tantalizing macarons first. -- It was particularly amusing for Rudolph to watch "Speedy" (a self-anoited nickname that an especially smugrabbit gave himself, after famously eluding the family dog) grip the clipboard for dear life.Mean streak love + fashionista kisses to all!

In Winter, one's thoughts turn to Santa and . . . those yummie holiday noms.As per usual with this event, The Arcade has turned out some top-quality tasty finds: amongst my personal faves are this scrumptious fruit and cheese plate (complete with li'l tartines) by Tres Blah; and this personal hot chocolate machine by What Next is a must whilst waiting for Santa. Some snowy friends came to visit my midnight munchies table here, including this pretty pair of kissing owls + also this lovely otter-like creature by Half-Deer (don't worry, I made the otter wash his feets first before stomping all over the cheese, hehe).

Dec 2, 2014

When the weather outside is frightful . . . grab a puppy purse, throw on some glowing icicle necklaces and . . . go shopping. -- What else is a fashionista to do in crappy weather, anyway? It's too cold to hit the gym. Hehe.Let it snow love + fashionista kisses to all!

Feathers got bruised, and tails got bitten (well -- the biting part was really just by the wolf, who couldn’t quite believe he had an actual bird sitting on his face), but in the end, it was declared by all that “Operation Candy Cane” was a definite success. Operation Candy Cane love + fashionista kisses to all!

Dec 1, 2014

Look what I found just waiting for a warm fuzzy cuddle at the new December round of The Arcade.
This round offers something truly in the gifting spirit: 25 free gifties, just waiting for the taking under the oh-so-pretty Christmas tree in the center of the room (including a truly gorges free Glam Affair skin, complete with a fire-engine red lipstick to go with all your Winter whites). As befitting for the winter season, many warm & cuddly styles (i.e., cute creatures + fur-trimmed fashions galore; as for me, I had to get my mitts on these pink-eared panda mittens!); also as per usual for this event, the home decor pieces & yummie noms are particularly outstanding (see my previous blog post today for a quick sampler of those).

How very Santa that 1 of the grid's most lucrative shopping events is offering something for nothing, too. Warm &fuzzy love + fashionista kisses to all!

It's finally the new December round of The Arcade, and 'tis the season for baking & winter-themed housewares (how much do you adore this chopped woodpile?), and for busy critters doing all sorts of troublemaking things. -- Word to the wise regarding these snow angel hamsters: not a good idea to use the flour they're rolling in for your cookies (unfortunately, they forgot to wash first).Winter woods love + fashionista kisses to all!